US ambassador asks Aussies to pretty please stop pirating Game of Thrones

Despite the fact that show's director and HBO exec have said they're OK with it.

The American ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, has just one, tiny, itsy-bitsy request for the Land Down Under, one that would make his job so much easier: please stop piratingGame of Thrones!

“As the Ambassador here in Australia, it was especially troubling to find out that Australian fans were some of the worst offenders with among the highest piracy rates of Game of Thrones in the world,” he wrote on Facebook this week. “While some people here used to claim that they used pirate sites only because of a delay in getting new episodes here, the show is now available from legitimate sources within hours of its broadcast in the United States.”

Australians are no doubt familiar with the fact that for the first two seasons, they could watch Game of Thrones episodes on the Showcase channel (a premium channel that is the exclusive Aussie carrier of HBO content) a week after they aired on HBO in the US. With Season 3, the delay between the American and Australian premieres has been shortened to just a few hours. (The first two seasons are also available in Australia on iTunes.)

Director: Yeah, whatevs

Bleich makes an argument that we’ve heard for years from the entertainment industry: that digital piracy is the same as stealing from a shop. (Nevermind the fact that stealing from a shop prevents others from having access to that physical good, while digital piracy does not.)

“If the 4 million people who watched Game of Thrones legally had been illegal downloaders—the show would be off the air and there would never have been a Season 3,” he added.

The American ambassador seems to have also forgotten the fact that the show’s director David Petrarca told an Australian audience in February that unauthorized downloads don’t matter, because the show really relies on “cultural buzz.”

"That's how they survive," he told the crowd gathered at the University of Western Australia, noting that HBO has 26 million paid subscribers in the United States, and 60 million worldwide—meaning, the network has plenty of money.

Indeed, the head of HBO has even said as much, too.

“I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but it is a compliment of sorts,” Michael Lombardo, the president of HBO’s programming, told Entertainment Weekly last month. “The demand is there. And it certainly didn’t negatively impact the DVD sales. [Piracy is] something that comes along with having a wildly successful show on a subscription network.”

So, Where can you pay to download episodes the day after they air on HBO?

Maybe HBO needs to take this opportunity to provide a world-wide distribution of the show for $2 per episode, HD streaming, the day after it aired on HBO... If 4 million people in one country are illegally downloading it, and half purchase it, that $4 million per episode that they didn't get yesterday.

I think the bigger problem is I don't understand why people are complaining about this. It isn't like they are trying to pass any laws to ensure that privacy stops. Neither are they threatening to hold up mutual trade, with Australia until it passes a draconian law that tries to prevent piracy. It's just a FB post.

This article seems to come across defending piracy itself (which I personally think is wrong), as opposed to fighting the imposition of draconian laws or harsh penalties for the relatively harmless act of piracy (which I think is important/necessary).

I think it's a bit harsh to call him a mouthpiece for a private company or really deride him personally, as it is fair to say that this is probably a reflection of a broader anti-piracy push. It's generally safe to blame the SecState/relevant Asst. SecState if you don't like what American ambassadors say.

That aside, I'm glad that industry folks are starting to take a little saner approach to copyright/piracy/IP issues. Even if it is only one network and one show, even a glimpse of sanity is good.

So, Where can you pay to download episodes the day after they air on HBO?

Maybe HBO needs to take this opportunity to provide a world-wide distribution of the show for $2 per episode, HD streaming, the day after it aired on HBO... If 4 million people in one country are illegally downloading it, and half purchase it, that $2 million per episode that they didn't get yesterday.

I would absolutely pay $2 to watch the show the next day. Right now me and my friends make this a social gathering every Sunday night. We're like 6-7 watching it, with only one HBO subscriber.

Nice to see that the two gentlemen associated with HBO/GoT have a sense of reason about them. Funny how closely it can mirror the military: The men on the ground know the in's and out's and can tell you what conditions are really like, but you'll hear nothing but spin from the people at the top (MPAA/RIAA).

“If the 4 million people who watched Game of Thrones legally had been illegal downloaders—the show would be off the air and there would never have been a Season 3,” he added.

That doesn't make sense. Does he have the ability to predict the future? TV shows are downloaded illegally every day yet the shows are still on the air just as Game of Thrones is.

I don't agree with the conclusions he's drawing about the actual situation, however if the show literally had 0 legal viewers, and therefore no income (merch aside), they *probably* wouldn't have another season. His hypothetical is a little absurd, since the market has shown a willingness to bear paid content at reasonable prices in convenient formats (format seeming to be the driver for Aussie piracy), however in the alternate universe where the show had no viewers, I would expect they would stop producing it.

How many calls have happened for HBO to setup a digital subscription that doesn't require cable?

This is what I don't get about these idiots. You have people literally begging to give you money, and they don't sell. You instead make false barriers to distribution and as a result people pirate. People would pirate anyway, but the numbers would be less and therefore more $$$ in your pocket.

"Bleich makes an argument that we’ve heard for years from the entertainment industry: that digital piracy is the same as stealing from a shop. (Nevermind the fact that stealing from a shop prevents others from having access to that physical good, while digital piracy does not.)"

I know most of us are on the same side on this issue, but these editorial inserts tend to get annoying.

How many calls have happened for HBO to setup a digital subscription that doesn't require cable?

This is what I don't get about these idiots. You have people literally begging to give you money, and they don't sell. You instead make false barriers to distribution and as a result people pirate. People would pirate anyway, but the numbers would be less and therefore more $$$ in your pocket.

Just.Fucking.Do it.

The day that HBO does that is the day that every cable company will either drop them or demand piles of money for cutting into their money. They clearly want to have an internet distribution - HBO GO is amazing. But HBO is not the one to be mad at, be angry at Time Warner, Comcast, Kabletown, and the rest.

So, Where can you pay to download episodes the day after they air on HBO?

Maybe HBO needs to take this opportunity to provide a world-wide distribution of the show for $2 per episode, HD streaming, the day after it aired on HBO... If 4 million people in one country are illegally downloading it, and half purchase it, that $2 million per episode that they didn't get yesterday.

Yep. The issue (in the US, at least) is that HBO is part of a vertically integrated company. They want you to buy a cable package, not just pay for the one show you want to watch. Instead of letting you use your internet connection as a dumb pipe, they want to tie themselves to the incumbent gatekeepers.

Are other entities involved with this, such as distribution? Or is this a new stance? I got a notice last year from CenturyLink after downloading an HBO show

I don't think they're saying they'd prefer people would pirate it. Just that it shows the popularity of their product and helps spread word of mouth which may lead to more legal sales.

I think a lot of more sensible creators are being pragmatic and have realised that piracy will happen, it can have a promotional effect for future sales of your product and it's stupid to lump your paying customers with a worse DRM'd product which pirates will crack anyway.

However, that doesn't mean that they don't want as many people as possible to pay for their product so, you know, they have the incentive to keep creating. Ultimately if everyone pirates they can't go on creating (unless they already have enough money and it's really just a hobby) and they'll have to stop and get a salaried job. If the fans want more of the product to be produced then it is in their interest to pay for it (although given the many other factors, especially when dealing with films, games where many people are involved this is no guarantee).

"Bleich makes an argument that we’ve heard for years from the entertainment industry: that digital piracy is the same as stealing from a shop. (Nevermind the fact that stealing from a shop prevents others from having access to that physical good, while digital piracy does not.)"

I know most of us are on the same side on this issue, but these editorial inserts tend to get annoying.

I just saw a statement of fact to counter the distorted reality presented in the quote. I'm happy for people to argue they're equally wrong from a moral perspective but that doesn't translate to "the same as".

How many calls have happened for HBO to setup a digital subscription that doesn't require cable?

This is what I don't get about these idiots. You have people literally begging to give you money, and they don't sell. You instead make false barriers to distribution and as a result people pirate. People would pirate anyway, but the numbers would be less and therefore more $$$ in your pocket.

Just.Fucking.Do it.

It's because complex distribution deals make lots and lots of money and keep control of the content on the content producer's side. They're not so much turning away your money as they are hanging on to a byzantine system that works very well for them.

So, rather than adapt to a changing marketplace and getting more money, HBO bribes an ambassador to be their ineffective mouthpiece...

How fucking stupid could you possibly get?

I think it's far more likely that the U.S. government is in the pocket of industry associations like the MPAA rather than specifically in the pocket of HBO.

All you are doing is speculating without any basis. In fact if we want to look at this rationally*, why would HBO spend money to bribe a ambassador then undo it all with their contradictory statements?

*obviously people and corporations are not rational so anything is possible!

I was really surprised to read the comments from the shows creators regarding how they feel about piracy, because I have NEVER had as much trouble finding something on Usenet as I have GOT season 3. DMCA notices seem to go out minutes after a show has been uploaded. Over and over and over again. In all my years, I've never seen something so persistently attacked on Usenet as this.

I've purchased the blue rays of season 1 and 2, and would happily pay a huge premium for season 3 were it available in some form that didn't require a general cable TV subscription. I'll be buying the blue ray as soon as it comes out, and I'll subscribe to HBO Go the second they make it available to me without having an unrelated cable subscription.

How many calls have happened for HBO to setup a digital subscription that doesn't require cable?

This is what I don't get about these idiots. You have people literally begging to give you money, and they don't sell. You instead make false barriers to distribution and as a result people pirate. People would pirate anyway, but the numbers would be less and therefore more $$$ in your pocket.

Just.Fucking.Do it.

It's because complex distribution deals make lots and lots of money and keep control of the content on the content producer's side. They're not so much turning away your money as they are hanging on to a byzantine system that works very well for them.

Yes. Corporations have only 1 primary obligation which is to make money. They don't have any obligations to potential consumers (though listening to them often helps to make money). They will only change when its demonstrable that they will make more money by using a different business model and for the moment I don't see the evidence they would.

I was really surprised to read the comments from the shows creators regarding how they feel about piracy, because I have NEVER had as much trouble finding something on Usenet as I have GOT season 3. DMCA notices seem to go out minutes after a show has been uploaded. Over and over and over again. In all my years, I've never seen something so persistently attacked on Usenet as this.

I've purchased the blue rays of season 1 and 2, and would happily pay a huge premium for season 3 were it available in some form that didn't require a general cable TV subscription. I'll be buying the blue ray as soon as it comes out, and I'll subscribe to HBO Go the second they make it available to me without having an unrelated cable subscription.

Again.

Accepting something as inevitable DOES NOT mean that you have to promote it or encourage it. It's perfectly rational to do everything to can to prevent it if it's something which you feel is harmful to you.

I pay for HBO only for GoT when the season ends I turn it off and then turn it back on when the season fires up again. I do this because I can (I live in the US).

If GoT was originally available, on demand, when people NOT in the US wanted it the piracy would have been much lower. Instead HBO held onto an outdated policy, that didn't think globally, that encouraged piracy (delayed release in non US markets). It could be argued that the piracy of GoT gave HBO a kick in the pants to start thinking globally as they now have next to NO delay in releasing GoT in non US markets.

I'm not a fan of piracy as I am a creative who makes a living off of selling my creative works but I'm not a fan of stupidity either. Big corps like movie, music and cable industries need to stop fighting the reality of the internet and embrace models of distribution that encourage people to "do the right thing". That means not only release it at or nearly at the same time as its first showing, stop expecting people to buy an album full of crap for two good songs and for gods sake punishing people for your stupidity (RIAA lawsuits). In essence stop enforcing old, out dated models that steal from both the artist and the consuming public.

"entitling me to ignore your terms of service" - not under any legal system I'm aware of.

Your hypothetical pirate seems to be a delusional fantasist on par with those working for the MPAA. I personally think the harm of piracy is way overhyped and not worth fighting with DRM but this idea that people engaging in it are super clever heroic people is absurd. You can come up with as many stupid rationalisations as you want but in the end you are benefiting from someone else's work without paying the money they are asking for it. Certainly not the greatest crime and I've done it myself but that doesn't make us clever or good.

“If the 4 million people who watched Game of Thrones legally had been illegal downloaders—the show would be off the air and there would never have been a Season 3,” he added.

That doesn't make sense. Does he have the ability to predict the future? TV shows are downloaded illegally every day yet the shows are still on the air just as Game of Thrones is.

I don't agree with the conclusions he's drawing about the actual situation, however if the show literally had 0 legal viewers, and therefore no income (merch aside), they *probably* wouldn't have another season. His hypothetical is a little absurd, since the market has shown a willingness to bear paid content at reasonable prices in convenient formats (format seeming to be the driver for Aussie piracy), however in the alternate universe where the show had no viewers, I would expect they would stop producing it.

The biggest problem with the statement is the assumption that "illegal downloaders" and paying customers are two mutually exclusive groups. I know people who are HBO subscribers, and pre-order the Blu-ray as soon as it's available, and pirate every episode after it airs, because the pirate versions are the most convenient to use on a variety of devices (many lacking optical drives, and at times lacking reliable internet connections).

All 4 million viewers could pirate the show, and that doesn't mean there would be no legitimate revenue from the show.

How many calls have happened for HBO to setup a digital subscription that doesn't require cable?

This is what I don't get about these idiots. You have people literally begging to give you money, and they don't sell. You instead make false barriers to distribution and as a result people pirate. People would pirate anyway, but the numbers would be less and therefore more $$$ in your pocket.

Just.Fucking.Do it.

The day that HBO does that is the day that every cable company will either drop them or demand piles of money for cutting into their money. They clearly want to have an internet distribution - HBO GO is amazing. But HBO is not the one to be mad at, be angry at Time Warner, Comcast, Kabletown, and the rest.

Nope - you need to be angry at HBO. They are the ones with the contracts with the Cable providers. They know what the fuck they're doing. They are perptuating the whole thing. Don't kid yourself.

Are other entities involved with this, such as distribution? Or is this a new stance? I got a notice last year from CenturyLink after downloading an HBO show

Invest $10 a month in a good VPN solution so they stop bothering you.

Or just pay for the content if it's worth so much to you?

You are erroneously assuming I don't pay for it. I download the shows then BUY them on DVD/BR when they come out. So yes I still support the shows w/o subscribing to HBO. If HBO offered cheap streaming access tot he shows the day after they air I and MANY other people wouldn't have to download it. I'm not going to subscribe to HBO when all I watch are 2 shows. Your thinking is very limited.